DaisyGoldberg

I've found Cagney's disappointing in recent years, but some of our family isn't keen on Le Bistro, so Moderno is a good compromise for a group of people getting tastes of different things. It's a change of pace, not fine dining. Between the large buffet and the meat selections, it's kind of an upscale buffet variety meal. For those who love the pineapple, we were thrilled to find it offered as a late night snack at the back of the Jewel a couple of years ago. Not sure if they still have a mini late night buffet back there, but it appears that's where they sent all the ship's evening leftovers - there were soups from that night's dinner, etc. It was a nice stop after a show, especially if you'd had a very early dinner and just wanted a little something more before bed.

It's dependent on the policy at a particular Haven, apparently. My sister had one cruise where she asked if it was possible to get a lava cake and they had one for her every night without her having asked. Next cruise (different ship) they wouldn't pre-arrange it even once, and told her to go to the dining room for it. Really soured us on making a special request.

I've never tried one of the sofas or beds that flip down, but there are suites on the Dawn with Murphy beds and they're AMAZINGLY comfortable for an adult. Full thick mattress (not a cot). These rooms are up front with floor to ceiling windows. Highly recommend! Waking up to a full wall view is awesome.

My mom got amazing care on NCL Getaway - she got covid/pneumonia and after the initial workup/diagnosis we went daily for nebulizer treatments and antibiotics. The facility seemed as fully/modernly equipped as any emergency room I've ever been to. I know they had 3 doctors (because one of the nurses laughed that we'd seen all three). Seemed very well staffed. Smaller/older ships may of course have lesser facilities, though I imagine it probably has more to do with date of the most recent drydock. Frankly, I think her initial care was far better than what she would have received in a busy ER at home with the same symptoms. That said, it's phenomenally expensive (her bill was 11K, to be paid upfront). On a NE/Canadian cruise you'd probably only ever be a few hours from a hospital, so you should do well.

I noticed more immediate service in the MDR (telling me there was a 15 minute wait, then scanning my card and taking me right in) this past trip with my Sapphire card than previously with my Haven card. Other than that I attribute special treatment to being a good tipper (which might also show up on your profile, I suppose). One exception - if you stay in the Garden Villa on a Jewel class ship they must send your photo around to the desks, because we were pulled out of line without scanning our cards and instantly escorted to a table even though there was a wait. They can only have done it by knowing what we looked like even though we hadn't yet dined there that week. Now THAT'S a halo!

I had one on Pride of America long ago and it was okay. The one I had on Getaway much more recently was basically cold ice milk with ice blended in. Not worth the calories if you have decent ice cream places at home.

I hate to see that this has creeped into the Jewel class ships. It is one of my highest criticisms of the larger ships. We certainly have stopped attending all of the games and game shows when they're not in the theatre. Apparently it's more profitable for them, however they determine that, so it will continue. But it has taken over the public areas to a very unpleasant degree. For us it ruins both the game experience AND the walking through the ship experience.

I loved my Pride of America cruise, but as others have said, it is so port intensive that I'd weigh whether I needed the Haven. (Clearly if you love it and it's not oppressively expensive to you, go for it!) As I recall everybody came back exhausted and went to bed and the evening activities were much less attended than any other cruise I'd been on. I assume the daytime activities were similar as everybody wants to maximize every port hour.

On the jewel sized ships I'd do a regular suite (non-Haven). You still get the dedicated dining for breakfast and lunch in Moderno/Cagneys, just not the access to the lounge. On a NE/Canadian itinerary, one factor to consider would be how much you're getting off the ship. If you anticipate wanting to stretch out on a lounge chair or get in a hot tub inside, the haven may be worth it to you. If you're getting off at every port and anticipate participating in many ship activities during the day, it may not be worth it. Just got off the Getaway for the second time this year and I can't wait to sail again on a Jewel class ship, as the activities are so much more enjoyable and accessible since they're held in the theatre and not the atrium. It makes us FAR more social to have that kind of breathing room to enjoy it. I do enjoy the dedicated dining room on the big ships, but I think the tradeoff of the rest of the ship design/overcrowding/weird insistence on scheduling everything in the atrium has put me off them. Re; first class discussion up above, just as Gary introduced Haven lite, I highly endorse "first class/business light" where you buy an extra ticket in coach. If you're alone, it gives you all the elbow/wiggle room you want. If you're a couple, book the middle seat as well. For a few hundred dollars on a flight it's far cheaper than first class but still a relief to know that nobody in that line of boarding people is going to squeeze in beside you.

I've brought my own syrup and never been questioned!

For the record, I'm not stuffing creme brulee in a ziploc. But I got in the habit years ago of carrying a small baggie on me (great for getting ice on the way back to a hotel room, etc) and if I had it on me and wanted to go back to my room with the second half of my sandwich from O'Sheehans, yeah, I'd use it 🙂

They have multiple theatres, yet put the most popular crowd pleasing activities smack in the middle of the most traveled area of the ship, limiting the # of people who can enjoy them. It is a giant flaw of the big ships and I still cannot understand their logic.

Depending on the dessert, a ziplock bag will do the trick...

Your bill also displays on your room tv (in newer ships, anyway). There is a little lag time, but it will usually be current within a day. So you can watch it and take pictures if you want to see things itemized as you go.

Thank you - precisely the information I was looking for! Will book the car service and find them when the time comes!

Very timely as I was flirting with the idea of not doing the usual car service next month and just grabbing a taxi, because the hassle of finding our driver last time was considerable. But I'm going over to NJ, which I assume could be an issue (or lead to a ripoff of some sort?)

I've always had one in my cabin (usually under sink in bathroom. though I've seen them on the counter or a shelf as well)

In the Haven lounge they usually distribute forms to fill out with requests for shows/dining and can collect them then or you can drop them at the desk on board. They do ask you to do it as soon as possible. Confirmation will appear in your room later. There is a Haven section and you're free to go to it yourself at your leisure, or go in a group with the concierge - they usually leave the Haven about a half hour before the show, and the ropes blocking off the Haven section are removed about 5-10 mins before the show starts.

We were in the Garden Villa once, and when it was time for dessert decided it would be cool to just take it upstairs and eat it there. But they insisted on calling the butler, so instead of a 2 minute walk/elevator ride then dessert, we waited close to an hour. I don't blame the poor butler - it was a service we didn't request and he likely didn't have time for. I wish they'd be more flexible with the policy if you're willing to take it yourself. Another vote for travel insurance - have used it twice now, once when my sister had emergency surgery the week before my mom's cruise and she was the only one who could care for her after discharge from the hospital and needed to cancel, and this past winter when Mom got covid on board and racked up $11k in medical bills. You can't just whip out your Blue Cross card - you have to pay it immediately and then deal with whatever insurance you have (including NCL insurance) after the fact. Either way, be sure you have the capacity for a LARGE onboard bill and even though it's a hassle, the ability to recoup that money after the fact. (It was very good care, by the way - probably superior to what she would have gotten at home, where she would have sat in an ER for hours)

A few years ago I skipped the Haven restaurant and ate the Indian food in the Breakaway buffet multiple times. A huge spread and super tasty. Was looking forward to the same on Getaway in January but it was very minimal, sadly. Since the NCL buffet desserts are tragic, in my pre-Haven days I'd finish a meal there with papadums and the sweet chutney and be very happy to do so. I've long thought they should have a dedicated Indian or Thai restaurant on board. I think most folks can find an Italian or Chinese restaurant at home - this would be a real attraction. Sounds like maybe one is happening on a new ship?

We thought Ocean Blue was underwhelming - key lime pie dessert was good, though!

My mom's 86 with heart disease and kidney disease and was pretty severely ill, so I was glad they did the kidney function tests before the treatments. Paxlovid can really do a number on people with poor kidney function.

We didn't care for American Diner (chocolate shake was basically chocolate milk on ice). In the Haven dining room, the only thing I customize is getting the Shrimp Scampi hold the shrimp. Makes a tasty mild pasta dish. Try the banana dessert as well- -- even if you're not a big banana fan. It works, somehow. Incredibly sweet, though, if you don't like that. Don't forget the special "snacks" menu in the courtyard in the afternoon - a good place to grab a late lunch or a fun dessert while playing a board game or chatting with friends. Better option than lunch in the restaurant if you just want a sandwich.

My mom had covid in January on the Getaway - we got the "it's $3000 for a covid workup" warning over the phone, but she was quite ill and she needed evaluation. Ivs, chest xray (beginnings of pneumonia), nebulizer treatments for the next three days, paxlovid, the works. $11,000 by the end (and you pay now and hash it out with your insurance company later). I thought her care was equivalent to what she would have gotten on land (superior if you count the much reduced wait time). The doctors and nurses were efficient and skilled. I felt comfortable knowing she was not getting worse, as she had been before we left, and that we weren't looking at a medical evacuation (would it have come to that if she just suffered in the cabin without intervention?) We went back and forth to the room without anybody tracking us or following us with a fogger. We were explicitly told that those of us who weren't sick (my sister and I had both tested negative) were free to move about the ship, which we thought was ridiculous. Stayed in our cabin, got room service. Fortunately we had a Haven suite and just relaxed and tended to Mom. Not the cruise we thought we were going to get, and months later we're still working to get the $ back from insurance, but it certainly was interesting! I definitely felt like the pre-visit phone call spiel was to serve as a warning not to come if you were going to object to the cost. We spent several hours each day in the clinic and I listened to the poor woman working the desk take constant abuse from passengers who "just" wanted this or that, or who were shocked at their bill. When our bill was broken down, it was really quite reasonable - an xray for $38? Can you imagine what the cost would be at home? The paxlovid was $800, which was a hit, considering it was free at home. But it did make her feel better very quickly.

I'd never seen it before until our last cruise - it was dinner time, 90-something degrees out, and there were easily 100 people in line in front of us and another 100 behind us. My sister who has major mobility issues but had powered through walking around port mentioned this would be the perfect time for a Haven intervention. I stepped aside and looked ahead and lo and behold there was a guy with a Haven sign working his way down the line, calling out for Haven passengers. We immediately jumped out of line and fell in behind him and were on board in minutes. I don't care particularly about butler snacks, or reserved seating at shows, but this kind of priority escort is what makes the Haven worthwhile for me.